1) to provide users with an inexpensive means for running HyperCard stacks
2) to provide developers with a convenient way to distribute their HyperCard stacks
The HyperCard Player meets the needs of stack users because it contains all the functionality needed to run, or “play”, HyperCard stacks. When a user launches the Player, the user level is set to three. This allows the user to browse or edit cards in a stack, or use the painting tools. None of the functionality needed to access more advanced authoring features are available in the Player; this functionality is available only if the stack developer has provided it through scripting.
The HyperCard Developer’s Licensing Kit provides developers with a more secure and convenient way to distribute their HyperCard stacks. Since the Player has no authoring functionality, users cannot modify, or perhaps even damage, a developer’s stack. And developers can use the Player Tools stack to create stand-alone applications, incorporating their custom stack with the Player to create a double-clickable application. The Player Tools stack also provides tools for changing the application creator and type, so for the first time developers can distribute HyperCard-based applications with their own custom desktop icons.
